“King Curly” has flown beneath the radar for so long, like one of those exciting stealth planes we admire so much, that we’ve had to time to develop a faintly schizophrenic attitude to plaudits from the media. On those occasions where a laudatory article or review appears we are entirely sanguine, nodding sagely and accepting it entirely as our due. The only thing that makes us REALLY FURIOUS is when an album receives anything less than a Four Star review. Then we wish they hadn’t bothered to not listen to the album in question.
At the same time, we never imagine that our invitation to the ARIA Awards has been lost in the mail; it seems King Curly is destined (and at least partially by his own devising) to be huddled outside in the cold like the Little Match Girl, decoratively consumptive but carrying a switchblade.
So, it was nice to be informed via email that a song of Steve’s has been nominated as one of “The 20 Greatest Australian Songs”. The song is “Curly and Sue”. We didn’t know about it till yesterday, but voting is open to all members of the public till the 5th of September – hie ye hence to The Weekend Australian magazine’s voting page (it’s halfway down the page) and help us out – we’re up against some heavy hitters in proper Rocky fashion.
But the fact is, we’re resentful that only ONE song was nominated.
Mr Creighton
Over the weekend we did a show in Fairlight/Northern Sydney – It’s worth mentioning because it was one of those rare & exceptional ones that leaves the soul replenished in some critical way. It was a local Folk club arrangement – I believe they only put on 4 shows a year. Special mentions must go to organisers Rosie and also Penny who was very kind to us, even taking us into their home across the road for a baked dinner. This doesn’t happen often in the cut throat world of musical entertainment: 3 times ever for King Curly – and it s always a good omen for whats to come.
The venue is a church and the support acts were locals, kicking off with a feisty minor named Zoe Elliott who had the full-house singing along. followed by ‘Tully’ a very talented guitarist /singer and his excellent band.
The night had a remarkably wholesome air about it. Not unlike a set for Home And Away I couldn’t help noting. Everyone looked well-feed and loved, with a large proportion of the audience being smiling teenagers. John was initially suspicious that we had got mixed up with some sort of religious sect but no doubt it was just the pay-off of it being a community run thing. It must be the land of milk and honey up there in Fairlight.
Having made these observations and been fed so generously, I felt pressure to lift my stage craft to new heights (see photo below). I worked the audience, first by attempting to be ADORABLE which is suicide of course in a grown man and then, when that didnt work, I tried for their pity. Of course This audience were too savvy to fall for any of that but by the end of the show (as we abandoned the smoking rubble that was once the stage) – we seemed to have won them over on our own terms. Thankyou Fairlight for a great night
KC
(Photos by Dave Magill )
